Potato-plow.



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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN COCKERELL, OF SOUTH YAN YEAN, VICTORIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HARPER, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA.

POTATO-PLOW.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 651,131, dated June 5, 1900.

Application led March 16, 1899. Serial No. 709,347. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern: Y and it is supported at its point b by the shoe- Be it known that I, JOHN COCKERELL, piece C, While its upper part takes the form blacksmith, a subject of the Queen of Great of a plow-foot b', which is clamped to the Britainand Ireland, and a resident of Plenty plow-beam Aa Also the share has short prongs 55 road, South Y'an Yean, in the Colony of Vicb2 at its back edge, the points of which just toria, have invented a certain new and useclear and about coincide with the plane of the ful Improved Potato-Plow, of which the folradially-pronged device D, which has a short lowing is a specification. axle D at its center seated in a box-bearing This invention relates to an improved po- E, carried by an attached arm E', which is 6o tato-plow or potato-digger, the main feature bolted to the part f of an adjustable bracket in which consists in the employment of a cir- F, which is in turn secured to the sole-plate cular radially-pronged revolving sifting de- C of the plow. The radially-pronged device vice arranged immediately behind a front D is constructed of a central boss d, having share which is just deep and wide enough to arms d projecting radially from it, said arms 65 cut the earth about the row of potatoes. Said being flattened at their outer/parts and either radially-pronged device is supported ona cenprovided with a lightmetal rim d2, as in Figs. tral axle, and it rotates in an oblique plane by l and 2, or without it, as shown in Fig. 7. reason of its edge or points engaging the land Also the central boss d may either be formed during the onward movement of the implewith slots d3, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 5, or 7o ment. By the radially-pronged device lying be solid, as shown in Fig. 8, and have a cone obliquely it serves a double purpose: First, d4 on its upper surface secured with a screw it separates the tubers from the earth, and, pin or bolt d5. The boX bearing E has a Second, it delivers those which cannot pass screwed cap E2, which bears on a collar d6, between the prongs in a row along the off side for which a recess is provided in the bOX-bear- 75 of the implement. ing,and said collar runs, preferably, on balls c.

The invention also relatesl to other features d7 is an oilway in axle D', said Waybeing of construction, which, together with the foresealed by a screw d5. going, will be fully described and explained The arm E is secured to the bracket-piece by reference to the accompanying sheets of f by bolts f passing through curved slots 8o drawings, in whichtherein, and the part f to the bracket F by Figure l is a side view, and Fig. 2 a plan, the boltf2, while part F is secured to the soleof a potato-plow constructed in accordance plate C by bolts f3. By means of the adjustwith my invention; Fig. 3, a front view of the able bracket the height and incline of the rashare and its attached parts; Figs. 4, 5, and dially-pronged device can be adjusted. The 85 6, detail views of the adjustable bracket-bearback part of the sole-plate C is secured to a ing and axle of the radially-pronged device; foot-piece G, the upper end of which is Fig. 7, a part plan of the radially-pronged clamped to the plow-beam, While at its lower device when madewithout a rim, and Fig. 8 part it has a guide or center board g, pivoted a central section through boss of radiallyat g and capable of being secured at the de- 9o pronged device when furnished with a cone sired position by a bolt g2, the purpose of the on upper face of boss to prevent earth lying center board being to cause the plow to take thereon. a straight course.

In constructing a single furrow potato- H represents delivery-prongs which may be plow embodying my improvement-s a beam arranged at about the position shown above 95 A, following the form of an ordinary single the radially-pronged device D to lead lumps plow-beam, is employed, and said beam. supof earth, weeds, and potatoes off its surface, ports from cross-bars A at its fore end two said prongs being secured at H' to the arm traveling Wheels A2, the vertical stems A of H2, descending from plow-beam. which are capable of adjustment in order to I (shown in dotted lines) represents anguloo determine the depth at which the share B will larly-arranged prongs which may be required cut. Said share is made in the form shown, when the potatoes are small to lead those which fall through the radially-pronged device to the side of furrow, and J represents arms or fingers to clean the rim or" the radiallypronged device D.

The plow when of the single-furrow type is furnished with the usual handles at back and at front with the usual draft-gear.

W'hen the potato-plow is at work, the share B is set to just cut under and about the row of potatoes or tubers and in the onward movement of the plow lifts the cut earth onto the radially-pronged device D, Whereon the earth is sifted and falls through the prongs, while the tubers are retained above and are delivered by reason of the radially-pronged device lying oblique or inclined in a row along the off side of the implement.

Although this implement has been designed for use as a potatoplow, I wish it understood that it may also be used for raising or dig ging onions or sugar-beets.

Having now described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a potato-plow, a radially-pronged rotary sifting device as D having an axle D' which works in a bearing carried by an adl scribed.

2. In a potato-plow in combination a circular-pron ged device as D, furnished with a eentral axle as D', and an adjustable bracket as F, supporting the axle-box secured on the sole-plate of plow, substantially as described and shown.

3. In a potato-plow in combination, a circular-pronged device as D, andra series of prongs as I-I, arranged to lie above said circularr pronged device substantiallyas described and shown.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN COCKERELL. Tit nesses:

BEDLINGTON BoDYCoMn, W. J. S. THOMPSON. 

